Tail Chewing - How Will It Grow Back?

[nessar]

I am looking to buy a betta online and I know that halfmoons are prone to tail biting when in transport. If my new betta chewed his tail it would grow back, but how? Would it be the same perfect circle and the same colours eventually?

 

[Larkspur]

I own 2 halfmoon bettas. They were both from petco and living in cups for weeks probably and neither had chewed tails or have. If you're concerned about tail chewing I'd be tempted to look at the halfmoon bettas petco sells first. They, believe it or not, have quite a selection and you can see the fish with your own two eyes and inspect their tail quality before purchase.

I don't think markings will grow back 100% to normal. All the goldfish I had that had their tails bitten by turtles regrew white tails rather than an orange one. My blue halfmoon male had his tail shredded on the tips once by ghost shrimp. The tail wasn't too bad and it apparently grew back in blue. My female was bitten about a week ago by the said male and her tail only had 1/2 remaining and is growing back rapidly in her clean 10 gallon tank at my boyfriends house.

Personally, I would want to avoid tail biters to begin with though. I've seen stories on here of some who never get over it. Like biting your fingernails...hard habit to break. But if you do end up with one make sure it is in clean water with lots of plants to keep it entertained. I think the key idea is to distract it from its tail.

But like I said I'd try your local petco or fish store if its an option. They happen to sell some very nice ones which blew me away! I got both my halfmoons from PETCO and both were in excellent condition when purchased for about $15 a piece:

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

I am looking to buy a betta online and I know that halfmoons are prone to tail biting when in transport. If my new betta chewed his tail it would grow back, but how? Would it be the same perfect circle and the same colours eventually?

They are more prone to it but it doesn't mean to say they will bite their tail. You may get a betta that is a constant tail biter, it will grow back but it may not grow back exactly how it was.

 

[Luimeril]

tailbiting. DX ugh. they do it when they get bored, stressed, or get sick of this flowy thing behind them all the time. lol it'll grow back, but sometimes they won't LET it grow back. if you REALLY want him, buy him. if he starts biting his tail, reduce his stress, first. if he keeps doing it, he may be bored. try re-arranging his tank decor. if he keeps doing it, he's a tailbiter. if you want him just to have him, there's no issue there. sometimes, they do it forever. sometimes, setting him up in a divided tank with a pretty gal next to him will stop him. it depends on the fishie.

 

[nessar]

Its not the fish himself that is a tailbiter, I am just worried he would do it in transport (hes being sent in the post).

Can't get one from a shop as im in the uk, and they are all veiltales in the shops.

So would the shape, colours and markings of the tail be the same when it regrew?

 

[Luimeril]

depends on the tail. from what i've seen in my brother's HM Dragon, his tail's growing back the same red the rest of his tail is. if he's a butterfly, it may not grow the white back.

 

[Iridescent]

Larkspur, I can't believe you got that first fish from petco, he's gorgeous!

 

[dipsydoodlenoodle]

Its not the fish himself that is a tailbiter, I am just worried he would do it in transport (hes being sent in the post).

Can't get one from a shop as im in the uk, and they are all veiltales in the shops.

So would the shape, colours and markings of the tail be the same when it regrew?

Where in the UK; my local shop has crown tails, rose tails or half moons can't quite tell in the bags and double tails (mostly veil tail though).

 

[silverrabbit]

I've bought HM's and a HMfeathertail from online sellers, and all have arrived in great shape, possibly tailbiting on my orange HM or just a bit of damage from transport. Either way it grew back just normal and coloured up to orange quickly. Recently bought a HM munched up boy who got beaten up by a girl, and didn;t think his fins would regrow perfect but he's getting the same black and red colouration coming on his regrowth, which also looks very neat and normal.

I wouldn't worry, as long as the water is clean it'll heal up nicely

 

[nessar]

Ah thanks guys.


I'm in Wales at the moment - west wales.

 

[Iridescent]

Ah thanks guys.


I'm in Wales at the moment - west wales.

Oh I spent some time in south Wales at a riding school this year.

 

[BethK]

Tail biting is a catch 22, some do recover fully and not fall back into it but mostly they will not grow out of tail biting if they start. You can keep their tanks exciting, give them the best diet known to man or fish and sometimes they will just 'bite'